Classic Poem

Achilles heard, with Grief and Rage opprest,
His Heart swell'd high, and labour'd in his Breast.
Distracting Thoughts by turns his Bosom rul'd,
Now fir'd by Wrath, and now by Reason cool'd:
That prompts his Hand to draw the deadly Sword,
Force thro' the Greeks , and pierce their haughty Lord;
This whispers soft his Vengeance to controul,
And calm the rising Tempest of his Soul.
Just as in Anguish of Suspence he stay'd,
While half unsheath'd appear'd the glitt'ring Blade,
Minerva swift descended from above,
Sent by the Sister and the Wife of Jove ;
(For both the Princes claim'd her equal Care)
Behind she stood, and by the Golden Hair
Achilles seiz'd; to him alone confest;
A sable Cloud conceal'd her from the rest.
He sees, and sudden to the Goddess cries,
Known by the Flames that sparkle from her Eyes.
Descends Minerva , in her guardian Care,
A heav'nly Witness of the Wrongs I bear
From Atreus ' Son? Then let those Eyes that view
The daring Crime, behold the Vengeance too.
Forbear! (the Progeny of Jove replies)
To calm thy Fury I forsake the Skies:
Let great Achilles , to the Gods resign'd,
To Reason yield the Empire o'er his Mind.
By awful Juno this Command is giv'n;
The King and You are both the Care of Heav'n.
The Force of keen Reproaches let him feel,
But sheath, Obedient, thy revenging Steel.
For I pronounce (and trust a heav'nly Pow'r)
Thy injur'd Honour has its fated Hour,
When the proud Monarch shall thy Arms implore,
And bribe thy Friendship with a boundless Store.
Then let Revenge no longer bear the Sway,
Command thy Passions, and the Gods obey.
To her Pelides . With regardful Ear
'Tis just, O Goddess! I thy Dictates hear.
Hard as it is, my Vengeance I suppress:
Those who revere the Gods, the Gods will bless.
He said, observant of the blue-ey'd Maid;
Then in the Sheath return'd the shining Blade.
The Goddess swift to high Olympus flies,
And joins the sacred Senate of the Skies.
Nor yet the Rage his boiling Breast forsook,
Which thus redoubling on Atrides broke.
O Monster, mix'd of Insolence and Fear,
Thou Dog in Forehead, but in Heart a Deer!
When wert thou known in ambush'd Fights to dare,
Or nobly face the horrid Front of War?